Rupert & Darwin Limited Faces Winding-Up Petition
A winding-up petition has been presented against Rupert & Darwin Limited at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions. According to public court records retrieved from the HM Courts & Tribunals Service CE-File system, the petition under case number CR-2026-007510 was filed on 29 September 2026. Presentation of a winding-up petition under the Insolvency Act 1986 is a statutory legal filing and does not constitute a judicial determination of insolvency or an order for liquidation.
Petition details
The court registry record provides the following core filing metrics:
- Case Number: CR-2026-007510
- Filing Date: 29 September 2026
- Case Type: Companies - Petition - Winding Up Petition
- Filing Location: High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts (Central Registry)
The identity of the petitioning creditor and the petition debt amount are not stated in the published source.
Company snapshot
Rupert & Darwin Limited (Company Number 11961478) was incorporated on 24 April 2019. The company operates under SIC code 56101 for licensed restaurants. Its registered office address is recorded on the Companies House register as Aldgate House, 1-4 Market Place, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU1 1RS.
Companies House records indicate that the company status is active, subject to a proposal to strike off. Latest financial turnover and net asset balance figures are not stated in the published source.
Directors and ownership
According to public filings at Companies House, the company's management and ownership structure comprises the following officers and beneficial owners:
- James Francis Rayson Macleod-Birch (born September 1978, British): Appointed as a director on 24 April 2019. Recorded as a Person with Significant Control (PSC) since 24 April 2019, holding between 25% and 50% of shares, voting rights, and the right to appoint or remove directors.
- David Ian Rooms (born March 1973, British): Appointed as a director on 24 April 2019. Recorded as a Person with Significant Control (PSC) since 24 April 2019, holding between 25% and 50% of shares, voting rights, and the right to appoint or remove directors.
These details represent public register entries. The statutory register does not connect named officers or beneficial owners to the filing of the petition.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
Companies House data records an active proposal to strike off for Rupert & Darwin Limited. A compulsory strike-off process is initiated under section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006 when the Registrar of Companies has reasonable cause to believe a company is no longer operating.
When a High Court winding-up petition is filed against a entity undergoing administrative strike-off, judicial liquidation proceedings take precedent to ensure formal debt recovery and asset distribution processes are preserved.
What this means for suppliers, creditors and counterparties
The presentation of a winding-up petition represents the earliest formal notification of High Court debt enforcement. Commercial counterparties and creditors should consider several legal and operational consequences:
1. Section 127 Validation: Under section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986, any disposition of company property or transfer of shares completed after the petition filing date is void unless validated by court order.
2. Bank Account Restrictions: Financial institutions standardly freeze operational accounts following advertisement of a petition in The Gazette or receipt of notice, restricting cash movements.
3. Exposure Management: Trade suppliers should audit outstanding invoice balances and review extended credit arrangements.
| Stakeholder Group | Immediate Risk Factor | Standard Risk Action |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Trade Creditors | Payment suspension & s.127 voidance | Review outstanding invoices; hold pending orders |
| Lenders & Finance | Account freezing & default flags | Audit security interests and covenant status |
| Contractors | Service interruption | Verify contractual termination and notice provisions |
How to run a winding up petition search and investigate further
Credit professionals and legal teams follow structured investigation workflows to verify pending petitions across trading partners:
- Review daily court listings via today's winding up petitions list.
- Execute a targeted winding up search to verify whether additional creditor petitions or court hearings are registered.
- Activate free company monitoring to receive real-time alerts on Companies House filing events and Gazette notices.
Running a prompt winding up petition search during customer onboarding or credit limit extensions helps identify formal court actions before notices appear in statutory public records.
For credit teams, suppliers and legal advisers
When a counterparty shows an active strike-off status alongside High Court insolvency proceedings, credit control teams need rapid visibility. Performing a routine winding up search prior to extending trade terms or delivering uncollateralised goods protects businesses from unrecoverable debt exposure. Automated monitoring systems ensure risk managers catch early High Court filings well before public hearing dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the distinction between strike-off and a winding-up petition?
A strike-off proposal is an administrative routine led by Companies House to remove an inactive company from the register. A winding-up petition is a legal proceeding initiated by a creditor in court to force compulsory liquidation for unpaid liabilities.
How quickly does a petition progress to a court hearing?
Winding-up hearings are generally listed 6 to 10 weeks following presentation at the Central Registry, allowing required statutory periods for service of court papers and advertisement in The Gazette.
Can a company trade after a winding-up petition is presented?
A company may technically continue operating, but section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986 renders post-presentation transfers of company property void without explicit court validation. Banking restrictions frequently disrupt day-to-day payments.
How do other creditors join an existing petition?
Creditors holding debt obligations can file formal notice to support the existing petition at the High Court hearing, or seek substitution as the primary petitioning creditor if the original petitioner settles.
This report summarises a petition recorded at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions. Presentation of a petition is not a determination of insolvency; the outcome is a matter for the court. Companies believing they are named incorrectly should email contact@corp-intel.co.uk.